New Jersey Devils Ilya Kovalchuk headed to Russia to play in KHL -NHL Update
Another major name is also on his way to another country to continue playing hockey as New Jersey Devils Ilya Kovalchuk is headed to his native Russia to join the SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), reported a number of sources on
Monday, September 17, 2012.
The 29-year-old has jumped on to the boat which many of his colleagues in the National Hockey League (NHL) have done over the past few days as the now former collective bargaining agreement (CBA) came to an end on September 15, 2012.
Kovalchuk is definitely one of the biggest names on the New Jersey Devils line-up at the moment and has been tipped off by many experts as being the heir to the captaincy, which fell vacant after Zach Parise joined the Minnesota Wild over the offseason by
signing on to a mega, 13-year, $98 million deal. Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators are signed on to the same contract after leaving behind the Nashville Predators.
The lockout is something that Ilya Kovalchuk has not been much active in, but when asked by Yahoo Sports on what his feelings are about the lockout, it seemed like the veteran forward was just annoyed at the entire process.
"I cannot say it's a shock. But it is difficult to agree with those who are fighting with the NHLPA. Eight years ago, owners of NHL teams got everything they wanted during the last lockout. They feel comfortable and think they will win again. But there's
a big difference between 2004 and 2012. Right now a lot of guys have long-term contracts. These are leading players, faces of the League. Look at how dynamic the negotiations with the NHL are."
Kovalchuk is a former first overall draft pick back in round-one of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and had a great year last time around with the New Jersey Devils with 83 points (37 goals, 46 assists),
It will be interesting to see how Ilya Kovalchuk performs back in native Russia during the next regular season with the KHL while North America deals with the lockout of the NHL. Many more players are expected to be going next with Alex Ovechkin possibly
on the list as well.
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